A List of Those Calling for Cuomo's Resignation or Impeachment : City Limits

Kevin P. Coughlin / Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is facing allegations of sexual harassment, and criticism for his administration’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis in nursing homes.

Originally published 3/5/21, last updated 3/12/21

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is facing mounting criticism for his behavior in multiple scandals. In recent weeks, several women have accused him of inappropriate behavior, including two former staffers who say the governor sexually harassed them. On March 10, the Times Union reported on an aide who said Cuomo reached under her shirt and groped her during a meeting in Albany. His administration is also facing fire for its handling of the COVID-19 crisis in New York’s nursing homes, including reports that Cuomo’s aides altered a July report to under-count the number of nursing home residents who died. The governor has recently been accused by fellow lawmakers of governing through bullying and intimidation.

On March 5, the state legislature voted to strip Cuomo of the emergency powers he was granted at the beginning of the pandemic, including his authority to issue new directives.

For his part, the governor has acknowledged that he’d “acted in a way that made people feel uncomfortable” in the past, but denied the most serious sexual misconduct allegations against him.

“I never touched anyone inappropriately,” Cuomo said during a press briefing March 3, where he implored the public to await the results of an investigation by Attorney General Letitia James into the sexual harassment complaints against him.

“I ask the people of this state to wait for the facts from the Attorney General’s report before forming an opinion,” he added.

A number of lawmakers and local leaders, however, would rather not wait. Some want the governor to resign immediately, while others are pushing for the state legislature to start impeachment proceedings.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said in a statement that the various allegations are “drawing away from the business of government.”

“We need to govern without daily distraction. For the good of the state Governor Cuomo must resign,” she said.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, meanwhile, said in a statement that he agreed with Stewart-Cousins’ “sentiment” but did not outright call for Cuomo’s resignation. He later announced that the Assembly’s Judiciary Committee will launch an impeachment investigation into the misconduct claims against the governor, which will take place in addition to the probe being conducted by the attorney general.

Five Democratic state senators from Long Island — John Brooks, James Gaughran, Todd Kaminsky, Anna Kaplan and Kevin Thomas — released a statement calling for the governor to “step aside” and hand off executive powers to Hochul until James’ investigation concludes.

Below, City Limits has compiled a list of those who have publicly called for Cuomo’s resignation and/or impeachment. Know any we missed? Email us at editor@citylimits.org.

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